Dual-torque hinge mechanism and related electronic device

ABSTRACT

A dual-torque hinge mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a second bridging component, a resistance assembly, a torque generating component and a driving assembly. The second bridging component is rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft. The resistance assembly is disposed on the rotary shaft and coupled to second bridging component. The torque generating component is coupled to the rotary shaft. The driving assembly is disposed between the resistance assembly and the torque generating component.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/391,310, filed on Apr. 23, 2019. The above mentioned application isincluded in their entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism and a relatedelectronic device, and more particularly, to a dual-torque hingemechanism and an electronic device with a dual-torque altering function.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A notebook computer comprises an upper screen cover and a lower hostbase that are pivotally connected together by a hinge mechanism. Thehinge mechanism provides torque to support the screen cover when thescreen cover is being folded and unfolded relative to the host base forpreventing the screen cover from being damaged by unexpected fallingonto the host base. The conventional hinge mechanism generates the sametorque no matter what direction the screen cover is rotated relative tothe host base. When the notebook computer is being folded, theconventional hinge mechanism provides a large-scale torque to hold thescreen cover to avoid the screen cover from rapidly hitting the hostbase due to its gravitational force plus an external force applied by auser; however, the user has to apply a large-scale external force toovercome the large-scale torque of the conventional hinge mechanism forunfolding the screen cover, which means the user cannot unfold thenotebook computer by a single hand. The notebook computer with theconventional hinge mechanism does not meet the needs of modern consumerelectronic products. Thus, how to design a hinge mechanism capable ofproviding torque of different scales when the notebook computer is beingfolded and unfolded is an important issue in the related mechanicaldesign industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dual-torque hinge mechanism and anelectronic device with a dual-torque altering function for solving theabove-mentioned drawbacks.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dual-torquehinge mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a second bridging component, aresistance assembly, a torque generating component and a drivingassembly. The second bridging component is rotatably disposed on therotary shaft. The resistance assembly is disposed on the rotary shaftand coupled to second bridging component. The torque generatingcomponent is coupled to the rotary shaft. The driving assembly isdisposed between the resistance assembly and the torque generatingcomponent.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the drivingassembly includes a first driving portion disposed on the resistanceassembly and a second driving portion disposed on the torque generatingcomponent, and the first driving portion is coupled to the seconddriving portion for force transmission therebetween.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, theresistance assembly includes a first resistance component and a secondresistance component, and the first resistance component is coupled tothe second resistance component for torque transmission therebetween.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, thesecond resistance component is non-rotatably coupled to the secondbridging component and the first driving portion is disposed on thefirst resistance component.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, thesecond driving portion does not actuate the first resistance componentin case the torque generating component is rotated in a first rotarydirection with respect to the second bridging component.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, thesecond driving portion actuates the first resistance component in casethe torque generating component is rotated in a second rotary directionwith respect to the second bridging component.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a slotis disposed on one of the resistance assembly and the driving assembly,one of the first driving portion and the second driving portion ismovably disposed in the slot, and the other of the first driving portionand the second driving portion is disposed on the other of theresistance assembly and the driving assembly that is not disposed withthe slot.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the slotincludes a first depth end having a first depth and a second depth endhaving a second depth smaller than the first depth.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, thedual-torque hinge mechanism further includes another second bridgingcomponent rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft, and an anotherresistance assembly disposed on the rotary shaft and coupled to saidanother second bridging component.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, thedual-torque hinge mechanism further includes a constraining componentdisposed on the rotary shaft, and at least one buffering componentdisposed on the rotary shaft between the constraining component and thetorque generating component and abutting against the torque generatingcomponent.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, anelectronic device with a torque altering function includes a firstmember, a second member and a dual-torque hinge mechanism. Thedual-torque hinge mechanism is disposed between the first member and thesecond member. The first member is rotated relative to the second membervia the dual-torque hinge mechanism. The dual-torque hinge mechanismincludes a rotary shaft, a first bridging component, a second bridgingcomponent, a resistance assembly, a torque generating component and adriving assembly. The rotary shaft is connected to the first member. Thesecond bridging component is rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft andassembled with the second member. The resistance assembly is disposed onthe rotary shaft and coupled to second bridging component. The torquegenerating component is coupled to the rotary shaft. The drivingassembly is disposed between the resistance assembly and the torquegenerating component.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a dual-torque hinge mechanism accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram of the dual-torque hinge mechanismaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively are sectional views of a first resistancecomponent and a torque generating component in different operation modesaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded diagram of the dual-torque hinge mechanismaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an assembly diagram of the dual-torque hinge mechanismaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the first resistance component and thetorque generating component according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the first resistance component and thetorque generating component according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a part of the dual-torque hingemechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronicdevice 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theelectronic device 10 includes a first member 12, a second member 14 anda dual-torque hinge mechanism 16. The electronic device 10 may be anotebook computer, and the first member 12 may be a screen cover of thenotebook computer and the second member 14 may be a host base of thenotebook computer. When the notebook computer is operated by a user, thesecond member 14 is put on a plane or on the top of an object, and thefirst member 12 may be unfolded relative to the second member 14; forexample, the screen cover is unfolded relative to the host base so thatthe user may watch information displayed on the screen cover. Thedual-torque hinge mechanism 16 may be disposed between the first member12 and the second member 14. The dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 willgenerate torque of different scales when the first member 12 is beingfolded and being unfolded relative to the second member 14. Forinstance, the dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 may provide small-scaletorque while the screen cover is being unfolded, so that the user caneasily lift the screen cover of the notebook computer; while the screencover is being folded, the dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 may providelarge-scale torque to prevent the screen cover from being unexpectedlydropped onto the host base because of the gravitational force plus theexternal force applied by the user. The dual-torque hinge mechanism 16may also be used in any other type of electronic apparatuses.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of thedual-torque hinge mechanism 16 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram of the dual-torquehinge mechanism 16 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention. The dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 includes a rotary shaft18, a first bridging component 20, a second bridging component 22, afirst resistance component 24, a second resistance component 26, atorque generating component 28, a constraining component 30 and abuffering component 32. The first bridging component 20 is connectedbetween the first member 12 (such as the screen cover of the notebookcomputer) and the rotary shaft 18. The first bridging component 20cannot be rotated relative to the rotary shaft 18. The second bridgingcomponent 22 is connected to the second member 14 (such as the host baseof the notebook computer) and rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft 18.The second bridging component 22 can be further named as a base bridgingcomponent due to connection with the host base. The first resistancecomponent 24 and the second resistance component 26 are rotatablydisposed on the rotary shaft 18. The second resistance component 26 hasa stretching portion 34 configured to engage with a positioning portion36 of the second bridging component 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary shaft 18 may have a first cross sectionSi formed on a portion and along a radial direction of the rotary shaft18. A shape of the first cross section 51 may be different from shapesof a through hole 38 of the first resistance component 24 and a throughhole 40 of the second resistance component 26. The first resistancecomponent 24 and the second resistance component 26 are not rotatedsimultaneously with the rotation of the rotary shaft 18. The firstresistance component 24 will be simultaneously rotated with the rotationof the rotary shaft 18 when it is actuated by the torque generatingcomponent 28. The second resistance component 26 cannot be rotated withthe rotation of the rotary shaft 18 due to the engagement of thestretching portion 34 and the positioning portion 36. The torquegenerating component 28 may have an opening 42, and a shape of theopening 42 corresponds to the shape of the first cross section 51. Theportion of the rotary shaft 18 having the first cross section 51 may beengaged with the opening 42 to fix the torque generating component 28onto the rotary shaft 18, so that the torque generating component 28will be simultaneously rotated with the rotation of the rotary shaft 18.The buffering component 32 is disposed on the rotary shaft 18 and abutsagainst the torque generating component 28. The constraining component30 is rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft 18, and may be movedrelative to the rotary shaft 18 toward the left for pressing thebuffering component 32. The buffering component 32 will then press thecomponents located on its left side to generate resistance in thedirection of rotation between the first resistance component 24 and thesecond resistance component 26. Torque generated by the dual-torquehinge mechanism 16 may correspond to the number of the bufferingcomponent(s) 32 used; the number of the buffering component(s) 32 usedis not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures but depends on anactual demand. The first member 12 and the second member 14 are foldedwhen the electronic device 10 is not in use. When the electronic device10 is ready to use but the first member 12 and the second member 14 arestill folded, the first member 12 may be rotated relative to the secondmember 14 for unfolding, and the first bridging component 20 may berotated with the rotation of the first member 12 to drive the rotationof the rotary shaft 18, so as to rotate the torque generating component28 accordingly.

In addition, the first resistance component 24 may have a first drivingportion 44, and the torque generating component 28 may have a seconddriving portion 46. When the first member 12 is rotated relative to thesecond member 14 for unfolding, the torque generating component 28 isrotated in a first rotary direction R1 and the first driving portion 44is not actuated by the second driving portion 46, so that the firstresistance component 24 is not simultaneously rotated with the rotationof the torque generating component 28 via motion of the torquegenerating component 28. When the first member 12 is rotated relative tothe second member 14 for folding, the torque generating component 28 isrotated in a second rotary direction R2 and the first driving portion 44will be actuated by the second driving portion 46, and therefore, thefirst resistance component 24 will be rotated with the rotation of thetorque generating component 28 due to the motion of the torquegenerating component 28. For further details about the operation betweenthe first driving portion 44 and the second driving portion 46, pleaserefer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and the related descriptions.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively are sectional views of the firstresistance component 24 and the torque generating component 28 indifferent operation modes according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. In the first embodiment, the first driving portion 44is a roller movably disposed inside a slot 50 formed on a main body 48of the first resistance component 24, and the second driving portion 46is a convex structure configured to engage with the first drivingportion 44 (such as the roller) for positioning. The slot 50 may includetwo ends 501 and 502 and a bottom surface 503. The two ends 501 and 502of the slot 50 may respectively have a first depth L1 and a second depthL2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first depth L1 isgreater than the second depth L2, and thus the end 501 with the firstdepth L1 is defined as the first depth end 501 or the deep end 501, andthe end 502 with the second depth L2 is defined as the second depth end502 or the shallow end 502. A diameter d of the first driving portion 44is ranged between the first depth L1 and the second depth L2. Moreover,an interval between an inner surface 281 (which means a surface of theconvex structure) of the torque generating component 28 and an outersurface 241 of the first resistance component 24 is smaller than adifference between the diameter d of the roller and the second depth L2.In one embodiment of the present invention, a radius r1 from a center C0of the first resistance component 24 to a point of the bottom surface503 around the deep end 501 subtracted from a radius r0 from the centerC0 to an outer surface 241 (which means the circumference) is the firstdepth L1, which means L1=r0−r1; a radius r2 from the center C0 of thefirst resistance component 24 to a point of the bottom surface 503around the shallow end 502 subtracted from the radius r0 from the centerC0 to the outer surface 241 (which means the circumference) is thesecond depth L2, which means L2=r0−r2.

When the torque generating component 28 is rotated in the first rotarydirection R1, the first driving portion 44 (such as the roller) ispushed by the second driving portion 46 (such as the convex structure)and stay around the deep end 501 with the first depth L1 of the slot 50,as shown in FIG. 4. The first depth L1 is greater than the diameter d,and the first driving portion 44 (such as the roller) will be located atthe deep end 501 in a loose fit manner. The first resistance component24 cannot be rotated. Therefore, the first resistance component 24 doesnot press the second resistance component 26 because the firstresistance component 24 is not rotated with the rotation of the torquegenerating component 28, and the dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 does notgenerate the torque. When the torque generating component 28 is rotatedin the second rotary direction R2, the second driving portion 46 (suchas the convex structure) will move the first driving portion 44 (such asthe roller) from the deep end 501 with the first depth L1 to the shallowend 502 with the second depth L2 of the slot 50, as shown in FIG. 5. Thediameter d of the first driving portion 44 (such as the roller) isgreater than the second depth L2, so that the first driving portion 44is engaged between the bottom surface 503 of the slot 50 and the innersurface 281 of the second driving portion 46 of the torque generatingcomponent 28. The first driving portion 44 will press the firstresistance component 24, so that the first driving portion 44 and thefirst resistance component 24 is rotated with the rotation of the torquegenerating component 28 in the second rotary direction R2. In themeantime, the first resistance component 24 is pressed against andslides relative to the second resistance component 26 and the torque isgenerated via pressing friction therebetween.

Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a part of thedual-torque hinge mechanism 16 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. The torque generating component 28 is rotated withthe rotation of the rotary shaft 18, and the rotation of the torquegenerating component 28 will drive the first driving portion 44 to pressthe first resistance component 24, so that the first resistancecomponent 24 will be rotated accordingly to press the second resistancecomponent 26 for generating resistance force and the torque. Theprinciple of the resistance force between the first resistance component24 and the second resistance component 26 is: when the user applies theexternal force to rotate the first bridging component 20, the appliedexternal force will be transferred to the torque generating component 28via the rotary shaft 18, and then the applied external force will befurther transferred from the torque generating component 28 to the firstresistance component 24 through the first driving portion 44, andfinally the first resistance component 24 transfers the applied externalforce to the second resistance component 26. Torque transmission betweenthe first resistance component 24 and the second resistance component 26will be provided by means of the resistance force.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. The first resistance component 24 mayhave a protruding portion 242, and the second resistance component 26may have a sunken portion 262 configured to match with the protrudingportion 242 of the first resistance component 24. The protruding portion242 is engaged inside the sunken portion 262 to generate the resistanceforce when the first resistance component 24 and the second resistancecomponent 26 are relatively rotated. The protruding portion 242 and thesunken portion 262 may respectively have a first inclined surface 244and a second inclined surface 264. The first inclined surface 244 willabut against the second inclined surface 264; when the resistance forceis increased and a force applied to the first resistance component 24 bythe buffering component 32 located on its right side is insufficient,the first inclined surface 244 and the second inclined surface 264between the protruding portion 242 of the first resistance component 24and the sunken portion 262 of the second resistance component 26 will beslipped, and the first resistance component 24 will be moved to theright for preventing the first resistance component 24 and the secondresistance component 26 from being damaged. In other embodiment of thepresent invention, the first resistance component 24 may have a sunkenportion (not shown in the figures), and the second resistance component26 may have a protruding portion (not shown in the figures) configuredto match with the sunken portion of the first resistance component 24for generating the resistance force and protecting the resistancecomponents from being damaged. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the resistance force between the first resistance component24 and the second resistance component 26 may be acquired due to thepressing friction resulted from a normal force which is generated by theforce provided by the buffering component 32 located on their right sideand which is applied to contacting surfaces between the first resistancecomponent 24 and the second resistance component 26.

Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is an exploded diagram of thedual-torque hinge mechanism 16′ according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 7 is an assembly diagram of the dual-torquehinge mechanism 16′ according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention. In the second embodiment, elements will have the samereference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the samestructures and functions, and a detailed description thereof is omittedherein for simplicity. The dual-torque hinge mechanism 16′ not only hasthe first resistance component 24 and the second resistance component26, but may also include a third resistance component 52 fixed to therotary shaft 18 and a fourth resistance component 54 rotatably disposedon the rotary shaft 18. The fourth resistance component 54 may have astretching portion 56 configured to engage with a positioning portion36A of a second bridging component 22A of the dual-torque hingemechanism 16′. The third resistance component 52 may be rotated with therotation of the rotary shaft 18. The fourth resistance component 54 willnot be rotated with the rotation of the rotary shaft 18. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the third resistance component 52and the fourth resistance component 54 may have structures differentfrom those of the first resistance component 24 and the secondresistance component 26 but still provide a similar function ofgenerating the resistance force.

In the second embodiment, when the first bridging component 20 and therotary shaft 18 are rotated in the first rotary direction R1, theresistance force is generated by the third resistance component 52 andthe fourth resistance component 54, and the dual-torque hinge mechanism16′ will provide the small-scale torque because the first resistancecomponent 24 is not rotated relative to the second resistance component26. When the first bridging component 20 and the rotary shaft 18 arerotated in the second rotary direction R2, the resistance force is notonly generated by the third resistance component 52 and the fourthresistance component 54, but also by the first resistance component 24and the second resistance component 26 in response to the rotation ofthe first resistance component 24 relative to the second resistancecomponent 26 due to the driving of the torque generating component 28;therefore, the dual-torque hinge mechanism 16′ will provide thelarge-scale torque. The dual-torque hinge mechanism 16 of the firstembodiment and the dual-torque hinge mechanism 16′ of the secondembodiment has dual-torque altering functions utilized to provide torqueof different scales when the first member 12 (such as the screen coverof the notebook computer) and the second member 14 (such as the hostbase of the notebook computer) are being folded and unfolded.

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the firstresistance component 24′ and the torque generating component 28′according to another embodiment of the present invention. The firstdriving portion 44′ of the first resistance component 24′ is a convexstructure. The second driving portion 46′ of the torque generatingcomponent 28′ is a roller movably disposed inside a slot 60 formed on amain body 58 of the torque generating component 28′. As the slot 50 inthe above-mentioned embodiment, two ends of the slot 60 may respectivelyhave the first depth L1 and the second depth L2. The first depth L1 isgreater than the second depth L2. An end 601, with the first depth L1,of the slot 60 is defined as the first depth end 601 or the deep end601. An end 602, with the second depth L2, of the slot 60 is defined asthe second depth end 602 or the shallow end 602. The diameter d of thesecond driving portion 46′ is ranged between the first depth L1 and thesecond depth L2. An interval between the outer surface 241′ (such as thesurface of the convex structure) of the first resistance component 24′and the inner surface 281′ of the torque generating component 28′ issmaller than a difference between the diameter d of the roller and thesecond depth L2. In one embodiment of the present invention, a radiusr0′ from a center C0′ of the inner surface 281′ of the torque generatingcomponent 28′ to the inner surface 281′ (which means the circumferencerelative to the center C0′) subtracted from a radius r1′ from the centerC0′ of the inner surface 281′ of the torque generating component 28′ toa point of the bottom surface 603 of the slot 60 around the deep end 601is equal to the first depth L1, which means L1=r1′−r0′; a radius r0′from the center C0′ of the inner surface 281′ of the torque generatingcomponent 28′ to the inner surface 281′ (which means the circumferencerelative to the center C0′) subtracted from a radius r2′ from the centerC0′ of the inner surface 281′ of the torque generating component 28′ toa point of the bottom surface 603 of the slot 60 around the shallow end602 is equal to the second depth L2, which means L2=r2′−r0′.

When the torque generating component 28′ is rotated in the first rotarydirection R1, the second driving portion 46′ will be located at thefirst depth L1 (such as the deep end 601) of the slot 60 in the loosefit manner due to motion between the slot 60 and the first drivingportion 44′; meanwhile, the first depth L1 is greater than the diameterd, and the first resistance component 24′ is not rotated in the firstrotary direction R1 with the rotation of the torque generating component28′. When the torque generating component 28′ is rotated in the secondrotary direction R2, the first driving portion 44′ (such as the convexstructure) will push the second driving portion 46′ (such as the roller)from the first depth L1 (such as the deep end 601) to the second depthL2 (such as the shallow end 602) of the slot 60. The roller diameter dis greater than the second depth L2, so that the second driving portion46′ will be engaged between the bottom surface 603 of the slot 60 andthe first driving portion 44′ of the first resistance component 24′,which means the second driving portion 46′ is clipped by the slot 60 andthe first driving portion 44′, as the dotted line shown in the figures.The convex structure of the first driving portion 44′ will be tightlyengaged with the roller of the second driving portion 46′, and the firstresistance component 24′ will be rotated in the second rotary directionR2 with the rotation of the torque generating component 28′. It shouldbe mentioned that the convex structures of the first driving portion 44′in this embodiment and the second driving portion 46 in theabove-mentioned embodiment are not limited to a ripple form shown in thefigures. The convex structure may be designed as a hemisphere form or asaw-toothed form, or other form, which depends on the actual demand.

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the firstresistance component 24″ and the torque generating component 28″according to another embodiment of the present invention. The firstdriving portion 44″ of the first resistance component 24″ is a slideblock, and the second driving portion 46″ of the torque generatingcomponent 28″ is a coarse surface structure with a high frictioncoefficient. The first driving portion 44″ is movably disposed inside aslot 62 of the first resistance component 24″. Two ends of the slot 62may respectively have the first depth L1 and the second depth L2. Thefirst depth L1 is greater than the second depth L2. An end 621 with thefirst depth L1 is defined as the first depth end 621 or the deep end621. An end 622 with the second depth L2 is defined as the second depthend 622 or the shallow end 622. The slide block of the first drivingportion 44″ has a height h ranged between the first depth L1 and thesecond depth L2. An interval between the second driving portion 46″ andthe outer surface 241″ of the first resistance component 24″ is smallerthan a difference between the height h of the slide block and the seconddepth L2. The first driving portion 44″ may have an abutting area 441configured to slidably abut against the second driving portion 46″. Inone embodiment of the present invention, the abutting area 441 may be aplane surface; in other embodiment of the present invention, theabutting area 441 may be a curved surface; in another embodiment of thepresent invention, the abutting area 441 may be a coarse surface.According to the embodiment of the present invention, a radius r1″ froma center C0″ of the first resistance component 24″ to a point of thebottom surface 623 of the slot 62 around the deep end 621 subtractedfrom a radius r0″ from the center C0″ to the outer surface 241″ (whichmeans the circumference) is equal to the first depth L1, which meansL1=r0″−r1″; a radius r2″ from the center C0″ of the first resistancecomponent 24″ to a point of the bottom surface 623 of the slot 62 aroundthe shallow end 622 subtracted from a radius r0″ from the center C0″ tothe outer surface 241″ (which means the circumference) is equal to thesecond depth L2, which means L2=r0″−r2″.

When the torque generating component 28″ is rotated in the first rotarydirection R1, the second driving portion 46″ will push the first drivingportion 44″ toward the first depth L1 (such as the deep end 621) of theslot 62; in the meantime, the first depth L1 is greater than the heighth of the slide block, and the first resistance component 24″ is notrotated in the first rotary direction R1 with the rotation of the torquegenerating component 28″. When the torque generating component 28″ isrotated in the second rotary direction R2, the second driving portion46″ (such as the coarse surface structure) will move the first drivingportion 44″ (such as the slide block) from the first depth L1 (such asthe deep end 621) to the second depth L2 (such as the shallow end 622)of the slot 62, as the dotted line shown in the figures; meanwhile, theheight h of the slide block is greater than the second depth L2, so thatthe slide block will be engaged between the bottom surface 623 of theslot 62 and the second driving portion 46″ of the first resistancecomponent 24″, which means the first driving portion 44″ is clipped bythe second driving portion 46″ and the slot 62, and the first drivingportion 44″ will push the first resistance component 24″ to rotate inthe second rotary direction R2 with the rotation of the torquegenerating component 28″. The first driving portion 44″ in theembodiment is designed as the rectangle slide block; however, the slideblock may be designed as an oval cylinder form, a hexagon form or anoctagon form. A shape of the slide block is not limited to theabove-mentioned embodiments, and depends on the actual demand. Accordingto one embodiment of the present invention, contact surfaces between thefirst driving portion 44″ and the second driving portion 46″ areconfigured to generate a friction force which is high enough for thefirst driving portion 44″ and the second driving portion 46″ to movetogether while they are engaged when the torque generating component 28″is rotated in the second rotary direction R2, and which is low enoughfor the second driving portion 46″ to be disengaged from the firstdriving portion 44″ when the torque generating component 28″ is rotatedin the second rotary direction R2.

In conclusion, the dual-torque hinge mechanism of the present inventionprovides the first resistance component and the second resistancecomponent on the rotary shaft in a rotatable manner. The first bridgingcomponent will drive the rotation of the rotary shaft, but cannotdirectly drag the first resistance component to rotate relative to thesecond resistance component. The dual-torque hinge mechanism may fix thetorque generating component onto the rotary shaft, and utilize theroller and the convex structure (or the slide block and the coarsesurface structure) between the torque generating component and the firstresistance component to provide a torque adjustment function when thefirst member and the second member are being folded and unfolded. In theabove-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, the roller or theslide block positioned inside the slot will be clipped by the torquegenerating component and the first resistance component for constraintbefore arriving the second depth; in other embodiments, the roller orthe slide block may be clipped by the torque generating component andthe first resistance component when it is located at the second depth ofthe slot.

In the first embodiment, the dual-torque hinge mechanism will providethe small-scale torque when the first member (such as the screen coverof the notebook computer) of the electronic device is being unfolded,and further provide the large-scale torque via the first resistancecomponent and the second resistance component when the first member andthe second member (such as the host base of the notebook computer) arebeing folded. In the second embodiment, when the first member is beingunfolded, the dual-torque hinge mechanism utilizes the third resistancecomponent and the fourth resistance component to provide the small-scaletorque for convenient operation, and the first resistance component andthe second resistance component are inactive in this situation; when thefirst member is being folded, the dual-torque hinge mechanism utilizesassembly of the first resistance component and the second resistancecomponent, and assembly of the third resistance component and the fourthresistance component to provide the large-scale torque. The first memberhaving a small included angle relative to the second member will be heldby the sufficient torque, and the first member and the second memberwill be folded via the increased external force applied to the firstmember. Comparing to the prior art, the dual-torque hinge mechanism andthe related electronic device of the present invention has thedual-torque altering function, and provides torque of different scaleswhen the first member and the second member are being folded andunfolded, so as to conform to modern custom behavior of a consumerelectronic product.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual-torque hinge mechanism, comprising: arotary shaft; a base bridging component rotatably disposed on the rotaryshaft; a resistance assembly disposed on the rotary shaft and coupled tobase bridging component; a torque generating component coupled to therotary shaft; and a driving assembly disposed between the resistanceassembly and the torque generating component; wherein the drivingassembly comprises a first driving portion disposed on the resistanceassembly and a second driving portion disposed on the torque generatingcomponent, and the first driving portion is coupled to the seconddriving portion in a slidable manner for force transmissiontherebetween; wherein the resistance assembly comprises a firstresistance component and a second resistance component, and the firstresistance component is coupled to the second resistance component fortorque transmission therebetween.
 2. The dual-torque hinge mechanism ofclaim 1, wherein the second resistance component is non-rotatablycoupled to the base bridging component and the first driving portion isdisposed on the first resistance component.
 3. The dual-torque hingemechanism of claim 1 wherein the second driving portion is functionallyengaged with the first driving portion, the first driving portion isdisposed on the first resistance component of the resistance assembly,the second driving portion does not actuate the first resistancecomponent in case the torque generating component is rotated in a firstrotary direction with respect to the base bridging component.
 4. Thedual-torque hinge mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second drivingportion actuates the first resistance component in case the torquegenerating component is rotated in a second rotary direction withrespect to the base bridging component.
 5. The dual-torque hingemechanism of claim 1, wherein a slot is disposed on the resistanceassembly, one of the first driving portion and the second drivingportion is movably disposed in the slot, and the other of the firstdriving portion and the second driving portion is disposed on the torquegenerating component.
 6. The dual-torque hinge mechanism of claim 5,wherein the slot comprises a first depth end having a first depth and asecond depth end having a second depth smaller than the first depth. 7.The dual-torque hinge mechanism of claim 3, further comprises: anotherbase bridging component rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft; and ananother resistance assembly disposed on the rotary shaft and coupled tosaid another base bridging component.
 8. The dual-torque hinge mechanismof claim 1, further comprising: a constraining component disposed on therotary shaft; and at least one buffering component disposed on therotary shaft between the constraining component and the torquegenerating component, and abutting against the torque generatingcomponent.
 9. An electronic device with a torque altering function,comprising: a first member; a second member; and a dual-torque hingemechanism disposed between the first member and the second member, thefirst member being rotated relative to the second member via thedual-torque hinge mechanism, the dual-torque hinge mechanism comprising:a rotary shaft connected to the first member; a base bridging componentrotatably disposed on the rotary shaft and assembled with the secondmember; a resistance assembly disposed on the rotary shaft and coupledto base bridging component; a torque generating component coupled to therotary shaft, and a driving assembly disposed between the resistanceassembly and the torque generating component; wherein the drivingassembly comprises a first driving portion disposed on the resistanceassembly and a second driving portion disposed on the torque generatingcomponent, and the first driving portion is coupled to the seconddriving portion in a slidable manner for force transmissiontherebetween; wherein the resistance assembly comprises a firstresistance component and a second resistance component, and the firstresistance component is coupled to the second resistance component fortorque transmission therebetween.
 10. The electronic device of claim 9,wherein the second resistance component is non-rotatably coupled to thebase bridging component and the first driving portion is disposed on thefirst resistance component.
 11. The electronic device of claim 9,wherein the second driving portion is functionally engaged with thefirst driving portion, the first driving portion is disposed on thefirst resistance component of the resistance assembly, the seconddriving portion does not actuate the first resistance component in casethe torque generating component is rotated in a first rotary directionwith respect to the base bridging component.
 12. The electronic deviceof claim 11, wherein the second driving portion actuates the firstresistance component in case the torque generating component is rotatedin a second rotary direction with respect to the base bridgingcomponent.
 13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein a slot isdisposed on the resistance assembly, one of the first driving portionand the second driving portion is movably disposed in the slot, and theother of the first driving portion and the second driving portion isdisposed on the torque generating component.
 14. The electronic deviceof claim 13, wherein the slot comprises a first depth end having a firstdepth and a second depth end having a second depth smaller than thefirst depth.
 15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein thedual-torque hinge mechanism further comprises another base bridgingcomponent rotatably disposed on the rotary shaft, and an anotherresistance assembly disposed on the rotary shaft and coupled to saidanother base bridging component.
 16. The electronic device of claim 9,wherein the dual-torque hinge mechanism further comprises a constrainingcomponent and at least one buffering component, and wherein theconstraining component is disposed on the rotary shaft, the at least onebuffering component is disposed on the rotary shaft between theconstraining component and the torque generating component, and abutsagainst the torque generating component.